Definition & Meaning of "aguachile"

What is "aguachile"?

Aguachile is a traditional Mexican seafood cocktail made with shrimp marinated in a lime-infused chili sauce. To make aguachile, cooked shrimp is marinated in a sauce made from serrano chili peppers, lime juice, cilantro, garlic, and salt. The chilis and lime juice give the dish its distinctive spicy and tart flavor while the marinade softens and infuses the shrimp with flavor. The primary ingredients of the aguachile sauce are lime juice, serrano chilis, and salt. The lime juice provides a bright, tangy flavor and helps "cook" the shrimp in the acid as it marinates. The serrano chili peppers add heat and spice to the sauce along with some aromatic flavor. Aguachile is typically served with tostadas, tortilla chips , and garnished with diced avocado, radish, and cilantro.